Barnacle Goose - Branta leucopsis
Smaller than the more common Canada Goose, it has a grey back, black neck and white face.
Estuaries, coastal, lakes & reservoirs.
October to March.
This bird is a vegetarian, eating grass, seeds and small plants. It likes to graze on grassland near to water. It breeds in northern Scandinavia and Russia but some migrate to Britain in the winter.
It is most commonly seen in the north-west of Scotland and around the coast in Ireland but occasional birds turn up in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland.
james hooson
Thornton Reservoir
28 January 2012
David Nicholls
Thornton Reservoir
13 September 2010
David Nicholls
Thornton Reservoir
27 November 2010
Rod Baker
Rutland Water
16 April 2013
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
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Species profile
- Common names
- Svalbard barnacle goose, Barnacle Goose, Naturalised barnacle goose, Greenland barnacle goose
- Species group:
- Birds
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Anseriformes
- Family:
- Anatidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 85
- First record:
- 25/11/2004 (Nicholls, David)
- Last record:
- 17/02/2025 (Messenger, Nigel)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.
In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.
Latest images
Latest records
David Nicholls
Sence Valley Forest Park
25 November 2004
single Barnacle Goose with Canada Geese
Rod Baker
Rutland Water
26 March 2013
